Conjugated Polymers for In Vivo Fluorescence Imaging

The emergence of in vivo molecular imaging probes has provided scientists and clinicians with vital information on the occurrence and development of diseases, guidance of the choices of therapy methods. It also provides the estimation of prognosis as well as evaluation of treatment effects of therapeutic agents. This chapter discusses the recent progress in the development of conjugated polymer (CP)-based fluorescent probes applied for in vivo bioimaging. It focuses on the in vivo fluorescence imaging of CP-based probes. They include in vivo fluorescence imaging of tumors, stimuli-responsive fluorescence imaging, in vivo fluorescence cell tracking, two-photon excited brain vascular imaging, dual-modality imaging of tumors in vivo, as well as other in vivo fluorescence imaging applications. Dual-modality imaging is capable of overcoming the drawbacks of imaging modality when used alone. Fluorescence imaging holds the advantage of high sensitivity; however, it cannot provide 3D information with anatomical resolution.